Comforter



Nov. 25, 1941. A vF'.- c. LESLIE E'r AL i 2,263,810

' COMFORTER Filed Dec. 26, 1959 iwf i; will lglv *lli- Patented Nov. 25, 1941 UNIT-co sur es CQMFORTER Application December.' 26, 1939, Seral'No; 310,920

' (CLIS-334) "7 Claims.

This invention, a comforter, `is designed '.to overcome the many-disadvantages'of conventional types of comforters, .such as non-adaptability to .cover changes or convenient cleaning, and the tendency for thecomfortersto creep off the bed.

The .conventional types of .comforters have a covering material which is Y usually directly filled with an insulating or lling material, such as down, kapok, woolor cotton,.and Whichvis customarily quilted or knotted to retain the filling material in a fairly uniform condition of-distribution. This type of comforter can only be cleaned by dry methods which are detrimental particularly to Wool or down lling Vmaterial which looses its elasticity' and consequent flumness through association with the cleaning fluids, and vwhich obviously reduces the insulating efiiciency of the filling material.

If a new cover is desired, complete destruction of the comforter is necessary, the filling material must be reconditioned, such as by carding the vvoolA when iused, since the lling material has been held in place through the medium-of the quilting or .knotting employed and `which maintains certain portions of the lling material in a compressed state which portions, after la period of time are unable to re-acquire their normally elastic character. The new cover must be made, the filling suitably placed and the front and back portions of the cover must be .quilted or knotted through the yfilling material.

This invention provides an entirely :new type of comforter, in which the .downor other ller is carried in an absolutely free state in a parallel 4series of socks which are `formed of `an eX- tremely closely woven, down-.impervious material which is also very light in Weight.

No quilting or knotting isemployed in this Ainvention, therefore the ller is free to retain and to restore its elasticity. No portion of the filling material is ever secured in a compressed condition. The socks are made sufficiently small in cross-section `to function as a retainer for the filler. 4

The cover is made with a series of .pockets to receive the socks of filler, and the unit is closed by means of a Zippen therefore the covers are easily and quickly removed for cleaning or for mere interchange of covers to fit in with predetermined arrangements, color :schemes or ensembles. The socks with ller are .easily and conveniently subjected to sunning, dusting or fumigating operations, therefore the varrangecomfort, interchangeability and cleanliness 'are concerned.

'The objects and advantages of the invention reside in: .Y

.,First; a comforter in which the covering material is quickly and conveniently removable for washing or otherwise cleaning, or :for interchange With a cover of different pattern or-color scheme.

Second; a comforter in which the vfilling material :is free of restricting or compressive influences, suchas quilting or knotting, whereby the filling material is at alltimes -free to retain or to restore itsoriginal resiliency and flufness.

Third; a comforter in which `the filling material is freely disposed in sleeves of light Weight material whichiis Aalso impervious to the filling material, and which sleeves of ller are easily inserted into pockets formed in a cover member.

Fourth; a comforter in which the filling material is freely disposed in `sleeves of lightweight material as outlined, and in which the sleeves are yprovided With elementsat oneend for cooperation With the .fingers of la hand or with a plunger for advancing -thev'sleeves of filler into the pockets, andv in which the other -ends of the sleeves are tied together in a continuous series of parallel sleeves.

Fifth; a comforter yin which a cover element is provided for .a multiplicity of filler-filled sleeves, .and with means for maintaining suitable spacing between the sleeves, and in which a tuck strip is provided at the foot end of the cover and which is free of filling material to provide a non-bulging foot tuck member for a bed.

Sixth; a .comforter as outlined in which the connections between the pockets for the sleeves form non-resistive hinge elements, to eliminate the crawling and slipping tendency which is prevalent in conventional comforters and to insure close cooperation of the comforter with thebody of the sleeper.

In describing .the invention reference Will be made to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan'view of the underside of the invention and showing the Zipper closure for the pockets'.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the filler ycar-` rying structure and illustrating'the series of parallel sleeves.

Fig. 321s an enlarged Ysection ltaken on line 3-"3Y of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on line ment is ideal so far 'as adaptability,v convenience, 55 'll-ill of Fig. L2, modified to show Vthe sock-'inserting plunger in place and which plunger is used to insert the ller socks in the cover pockets.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the hinging and body contour-conforming characteristics of the invention.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showing the complete cross-sectional structure of the cover, sock, and filler combination.

The invention consists of a comforter which includes a ller structure and a removable and replaceable cover structure.

The ller structure consists of a series of parallel socks or sleeves I which are made of a down-impervious, lightweight material; each sleeve being preferably equal in length to the comforter and being comparatively small in cross-section when filled, and being closed all around as by sewing I I; one end I2 of the sleeves` being free of each other, and the other end I3 being attached to a suitable connecting element, such as a tape I4, which tape maintains the correct spacing and relation between the respective sleeves of the series. This tape also facilitates handling of the ller structure as a whole, for airing, sunning, or cleaning; the separated sleeves being effective in increasing the sunning and airing efficiency.

The filler I5 is blown into the sleeves and left completely free; no stitching, quilting or knotting being resorted to, therefore the ller, such as down, kapok or Wool is entirely free to retain or to restore its resiliency and iiufliness, and the maximum degree of heat insulating eliiciency is thus assured. The comparatively small crosssectional area of the sleeves insures the maintenance of uniform distribution.

At the free end of each sleeve a pocket I5 is formed to receive the fingers or a plunger I 'I such as a broom handle or like suitable element by means of which the sleeves can be individually inserted in the cover pockets.

'I'he cover consists of a top or uppersurface element I8 and a bottom or undersurface element I9 which are made of any desired material such as silk, rayon, or cotton materials and of any desired color combination.

The top and bottom elements I8 and I9 are stitched together from the head end 20 to the foot end 2|, as indicated at 22 to form a series of pockets 23 with the stitched portions 22 forming non-resistive hinges between the pockets. The pockets 23 are made of a suitable size to quite snugly receive the sleeves of filler material, the sleeves being substantially equal in length to the pockets.

The foot end of the upper surface element I8 of the cover extends beyond the foot end of the undersurface element I9 to form a tuck strip 24 to be tucked under the foot end of a mattress (not shown), and the foot end of the undersurface element I9 is releasably attached to the upper surface element by any suitable means such as by means of the Zipper 25.

For cleaning or for changing covers, itis merely necessary to slide the runner 26 of the Zipper to open the foot end of the cover, after which the filler structure is easily withdrawn from the pockets. The filler structure can be hung on a line for airing or sunning by clothes-pinning the taped ends of the structure to the line.

To assemble the sleeve and filler structure in a cover, the sleeves are taken in series and inserted Into the respective pockets in the cover, either by inserting the ends of the ngers of the hand lot shown) or a plunger` I7 into the pocket .to this same eiect, the comforter very closely conforms to the body of the sleeper, thus assuring a maximum of comfort and warmth.

It will be noted that a number of interchangeable covers may be provided for a single ller structure, particularly for sanitary purposes in hotels, hospitals, and similar institutions; and

also for the purpose of beautifying bedrooms, for carrying out defined color schemes or for matching different drapes or ensembles.

. Obviously it would be possible to make the filler structure in various ways, such as in two units in which one unit would be inserted from the foot endrand the other from the head end, which modifications are not shown; and there are also other modifications possible, and it is therefore understood that variations in construction and arrangement of parts, which variations are consistent with the appended claims may be resorted to without detracting from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacriiicing any of the advantages thereof. Y

We claim:

1,. A comforter comprising a series of filler elements and a cover having a series of parallel pockets with the series extending throughout the width of the cover and with the respective ller elements removably disposed in the respective pockets; and in which said filler elements each consist of a down-impervious sleeve filled with filler material, with one end of the iiller elements being free of each other for separate insertion in said pockets and with the other ends attached to a common connection for maintaining the spacing and relation of the respective elements of the series, and in which the attachment of the other ends maintains said other ends from slipping down inside the pockets through cooperation of the common connection with the ends of the pockets.

2. A comforter comprising a series of ller elements and a cover having a series of parallel pockets with the series extending throughout the width of the cover and `with the respective filler elements removably disposed in the respective pockets; and in which said cover element consists of an uppersurface element and a lowersurface element longitudinally divided to form said series of pockets by spaced attachment of the two elements, with said pockets closed at one end and releasably closed at the other end. for convenient removal and insertion of the filler elements therein and their retention of said filler elements, and in which said filler elements are all connected together at one end to maintain the elements in their respective positions, and with the connections between the elements cooperating with one end of the spaced attachments to maintain said elements against working down into the'pockets.

3. A comforter comprising a cover element having ahead end and a foot end and uppersurface and undersurface elements; a series of parallel pockets formed between said uppersurface and undersurface elements by continuous connection between the upper surface and undersurface elements with each pocket extending from said head end to said foot end; and filler elements connected together at one end and individually fitting in said pockets and extending throughout the lengths thereof, the connections between said elements maintaining said elements against working down into said pockets through cooperation of the connections between the elements with the terminals of the continuous connections forming the pockets; and means for releasably closing said pockets to retain said ller elements and tie the bottoms of the uppersurface and undersurface elements together, and to permit convenient interchange of cover elements.

4. A comforter comprising parallel pockets and removable filler elements, in which each of said ller elements consist of a down-impervious sock lled with suitable filler, with one end of the respective socks free of each other and the other ends tied together in parallel arrangement with a common connecting element maintaining the spacing and relation of the various socks and for cooperation with one end of the pockets to maintain the socks against working down into the pockets.

5. In a comforter having a series of parallel pockets formed throughout the length thereof by attachment of the upper and under cover elements of the cover; ller elements comprising socks filled with a filler material and having a common connection connecting all of the ller elements together at one end with the common connection forming retaining means in cooperation with the attachments forming the pockets to maintain said one end of the respective filler elements from working down into the pockets, and to maintain said one end of the respective filler elements in relative position against twisting and bunchingwithin the pockets.

6. A structure as dened in claim 5; and a rod pocket formed at the other end of each sock for insertion of a rod for forcing the other end of each sock down to the bottom of the pocket; said common connection between the socks coincidently functioningY to maintain said socks in relative order and for convenience in hanging the entire series of socks for airing and to form the -entireseries into a single unit to prevent misplacement or loss.

'7. A comforter having a series of parallel pockets formed throughout one dimension thereof by attachment of the upper and under cover ele-A ments of the cover; filler elements removably disposed in said pockets; releasable closing means for at least one end of said series of pockets to provide access to the pockets at will for insertion and removal of said filler elements and a common connection connecting all of the filler elements at one end in slightly spaced relation for cooperation of the common connection with the attachments which form the pockets, to maintain the filler elements from creeping down into the pockets.

FREEMAN CHASE LESLIE.

JAMES E. EDMISTON. 

